Dedicated to the preservation of Long Island's 'gold coast' estates and other things old.

Monday, November 25, 2013

'Udallia'

'Udallia', the Roswell Eldridge estate built c. 1910 in Saddle Rock (Great Neck) with landscaping by Beatrix Jones Farrand. Eldridge was president of the Bank of Great Neck and founder and first mayor of the Village of Saddle Rock. It appears 'Udallia' has since been demolished.

Another Great Neck library publication: "Little remains of the original Eldridge estate. Along Grist Mill Lane can be seen the caretaker's cottage and the chauffeur's home and a few less easily identified smaller buildings."

For what it is worth, the only Eldrige listed in the 1929 Great Neck telephone directory is Lewis Eldridge's widow, Louise,at 25 Udall Drive.

In the 1935 Social Register, we have Mr. Roswell Eldridge and Louise Eldridge listed at 'Saddle Rock'

Finally, this link clears up much of the confusion. The estate was originally Udall property, eventually inherited by a descendant, Louise, who married Roswell Eldridge, and called the former Udall property 'Saddle Rock' (eventually incorporating it into a village all of whose residents were their employees) http://books.google.com/books?id=_OhJW0BRTqkC&lpg=PA49&dq=lewis%20louise%20eldridge%20great%20neck%20saddle%20rock%20social%20register&pg=PA49#v=onepage&q=lewis%20louise%20eldridge%20great%20neck%20saddle%20rock%20social%20register&f=false

For those who do not wish to read through the whole thing, the short version is Louise inherited the property, maintained the old Georgian house, retaining title. In 1910, husband Roswell built the new, COLUMNED, house and named it 'Udallia'. As nearly as I can tell, there was no Lewis Eldridge, and I would guess that it is a corruption of 'Louise'.

"Since they had no children, Roswell's death left Louise as the sole mistress and heir to the entire Saddle Rock estate."Trusts were established for Roswell's brother Lewis and his family living on the estate. Lewis Roswell (sic) and his wife Elizabeth Huyck had four children, two of whom died in childhood. In 1930, Lewis and Elizabeth built a house, called Redcote, designed by Delano & Aldrich, the most prestigious architectural firm associated with Long Island."

Wait! Late breaking (literally, as the clock just struck midnight) news. In 'The Architecture of Delano & Aldrich' by Peter Pennoyer and Anne Walker, 'Redcote' is listed as an alteration for Lewis Eldridge (one presumes of the Wilson Eyre house)

So Eyre only executed three commissions on Long Island out of seven planned. They are the Miss Lucille Alger Residence in Great Neck, the Theodore Conklin estate in Quogue and the Rolan Conklin estate in Lloyd Harbor. So Wilson had noting to do with Redcote.

From the SPLIA book:

"Several other Eyre design projects on Long Island also apparently failed to materialize."

One was for the George Kent house which was eventually designed by W.W. Bosworth.

"Dating after 1912, an apparently unrealized sketch plan and sketch for a cottage for Roswell Eldridge at Great Neck is typical of Eyre's designs for small houses in the early 1900s."

'Apparently' is the operative word here. Something was built and called 'Redcote' and later remodeled by Delano & Aldrich. Could have been the Eyre house. Might not have been. Possibly, maybe not. Funny how some houses are so well documented that nothing is confused by history, and others, not so much.

At this time there were at least two residences on the estate. There was Udallia where Roswell and Louise Eldridge lived. And Redcote where Roswell's brother Lewis and Elizabeth lived after moving from Hempstead.Mrs. Roswell EldridgeIV

Since I'd imagined one couldn't ever be considered too obsessed to drop, even at this late date, a tidbit, or focus on a point someone else already referenced in passing. "..Udall property remained in the possession of Louise Eldridge, including the large Georgian pink-painted brick house called 'Saddle Rock'." Yes, before there was a 'Udallia' fronting on the bay facing the bolder eponymic for the village whose waters it's in, an earlier residence, of otherwise unknown origin, was likewise christened with the rock's name. Thanks goes to DED for the google books link.